The boss is said to be looking to expand his squad…
Aston Villa is gradually improving under Unai Emery after an unstable start to the Premier League season. It all came together for them last time, when they crushed strong side Brighton & Hove Albion 6-1 at Villa Park. Now the Midlands side are hoping to achieve an equally impressive winning streak in the league with this sensational result.
Villa can still improve further when the January transfer window also opens, with them ready to spend money throughout the summer. That said, reports suggest they remain “very interested” in one La Liga star in particular.
In total, during the summer transfer window, Aston Villa spent 93 million euros (£81 million) on reinforcements, welcoming players such as Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo. And so far, those reinforcements are paying off, especially Diaby, who has scored five goals in seven Premier League games. This raises the question of how far this camp can go, especially with the new additions.
As the January market opens, we may also get an answer to that question, which is interest in a La Liga star. According to Sport in Spain, Villa and president of football operations Monchi remain very interested in signing Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, whose contract expires next summer. This means that, if Bilbao wants to withdraw, it may have to happen in January, which could give Villa an opportunity.
The Midlands club have been boosted by Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly throwing in the towel regarding a move for the winger, but still face competition from Brighton and Paris Saint-Germain. There is also still a possibility that Williams signs a new deal in Spain, which could include a lower release clause.
At just 21 years old, Williams is emerging as one of La Liga’s best young players, with four assists in five games this season proving just how talented the Spain international is. But he’s not just a strong creative force in the current campaign. The Bilbao man has impressed in almost every important area. And according to FBref, he even surpasses current Villa winger Leon Bailey in some aspects.
Williams has rightly received plenty of praise during his young career, including from his brother and Bilbao teammate Inaki Williams, who said:
“(His rise) has been amazing. He is showing that he is (improving), he is gaining experience. In front of goal, he is improving a lot. He is a talent. A diamond in the rough. He still has a lot of work to do and I hope he can continue to improve.”
That said, if Villa can get a deal done then they could have a real gem on their hands, both for now and for the future. When the January transfer window opens, it looks like Williams will definitely be a name to watch.
